Patients' Psychological and Practical Reasons for Attending the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department: A Mixed Methods Study (P3ED Study)

This mixed methods research study provides an analysis of patients' psychological and practical reasons for attending the Cairns Hospital (CH) Emergency Department (ED). The research had four main aims: to provide an analysis of current and recent trends in utilisation of the CH ED; to estimate the rate of GP-type patients presenting to the CH ED; to identify the psychological and practical reasons for people attending the CH ED; and to consider alternative models of care to potentially reduce presentations to the ED. The research dataset has multiple parts. Firstly, survey data from study participants (patients attending the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department) from 13 March - 11 April 2014. Secondly, focus group data from participants, post ED presentation held April-May 2014. Thirdly, Emergency Department Information System data from 2010-2014, including the period of the survey administration.